Don Most: Happy Day's Ralph Malph to Director and Jazz Singer

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<v SPEAKER_01>My career in the entertainment industry has enabled me to work with a diverse range of talent.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Through my years of experience, I've recognized two essential aspects: industry professionals with famous stars.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Behind the scenes staff have fascinating stories to tell.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Secondly, audiences are eager to listen to these stories, which offer a glimpse into their lives and the evolution of their life stories.

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<v SPEAKER_01>This podcast aims to share these narratives, providing information on how they evolved into their chosen career.

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<v SPEAKER_01>We will delve into their journey to stardom, discuss their struggles and successes, and hear from people who help them achieve their goals.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Get ready for intriguing behind-the-scenes stories and insights into the fascinating world of entertainment.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Hi, I'm Tony Mantor.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Welcome to Almost Live Nashville.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Today we have the distinct pleasure of hosting Don Most, the actor that brought life to Ralph Mauff on Happy Days.

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<v SPEAKER_01>He will talk about his journey from the show to his varied ventures in film, theater, and his love for music, offering a unique glimpse into his life beyond the beloved sitcom.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So thanks for coming on.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Oh, sure.

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<v SPEAKER_01>My pleasure.

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<v SPEAKER_01>When you were about 14, 15 years old, I believe that your first love was actually music.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, I was I was focused more on music back then, uh growing up in Brooklyn, and um at the age of 13, I started going to uh this school in in Manhattan.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was for kids and teenagers, for singing, dancing, acting, that sort of thing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And um I was in that school for probably a year and a half, something like that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And when then I got picked, because the guy who ran it is an old vaudevillian performer in Charlie Lowe.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So he had a studio with his wife Kasha.

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<v SPEAKER_00>She taught the tap dancing, which I had to take.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It wasn't very good.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But um, but then he would handpick some of the best students or whatever you want to call it, and and created like a a review, you know, like a nightclub act called the Broadway Show Offs, because his studio is on uh Broadway, 1650 Broadway, I remember.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So I was picked to be in this review, and then he had an agent that would book the show up in a there was a big resort area upstate New York called the Cats Mountains.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Oh, yeah, great place.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Some of your listeners will know, some won't.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The movie Dirty Dancing was set in the Catsco Mountains, and Walk on the Moon was another movie that was set there.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They had a whole bunch of hotels and they would get some big name entertainment in their heyday.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, I remember those places.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They were great.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The summer that I was turning 15, I spent the summer up there and performed in a bunch of nightclubs up in those hotels all summer long.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So, yeah, that was sort of my first real professional job.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And um, I thought the the music is what where I was mainly focused on.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So, how long after that did you turn to acting?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Probably about a year later.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I really switched gears and I I started getting blazer focused on on the acting side.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I put the music aside for a while.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Just to circumstances.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I think it was being exposed to, you know, there was a it was a very fur uh fervent time for filmmaking then in the late 60s.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Some great, you know, independent type movies that were being made that I became really a fan and hooked on going to see all these great films.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You know, Dustin Hoffman, Midnight Cowboy, and and Jack Nicholson.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I became a huge fan seeing him in uh Easy Rider and Five Easy Pieces, and then you know, Bogdanovich's films, Last Picture Show.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was just a great time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And and that's when I went to a different school um in New York for strictly acting, and that's when I really uh changed the the course.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So what led you to make the move from New York where there were several things going on to LA?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, there were a lot of things going on, but you know, back then, okay, so when I went out to LA, it was originally just uh for the summer after my junior year in college.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That was my my plan.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What happened was when I did switch gears, I I was able to get a manager through that acting school, and she sent me out, got me with agents, and I went out on a lot of I did a lot of commercials, well, four years from the time I was 16 till I was 20.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I did like four 40 commercials, and a lot of it were national commercials.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I was up for a couple of Broadway plays that came pretty close.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Actually, one of them was the original Jesus Christ Superstar, and I got through like three different singing auditions, and I was like getting really close, but then I had to get through a dance audition and couldn't make that.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Okay.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So I wound up not getting it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But you know, so but back then it was mainly uh theater in New York.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Uh the soap operas were big and commercials, and there were some films every once in a while that would be shooting in New York.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You know, there wasn't a lot of television going on, you know, network kind of primetime television.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There was very little of that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Most of the films were still being done in LA.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And so I decided after my junior year to go out there for the summer, make some headway, make some contacts, and then then I'd go back to school, finish my uh senior year.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Um, but I'd already have a foothold so that when I graduated, I could get out there and maybe hit the ground running was the thought.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But then what happened was I went out there just for the summer and and and I I landed at I was able to get an agent out there because of the agents that I worked with in New York.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They they referred me to several agents, and one of them signed me, and they started sending me out on auditions for like some guest roles on TV shows.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I landed a couple of them very quickly.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So um it was a tough decision, but my manager actually at the time said um you should think about taking six months off of school and not going back because you got some momentum going, you know.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, that must have been a pretty tough decision to make at that time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, actually, I didn't think about it very long.

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<v SPEAKER_00>When they said you should do that, I said, you know, so I just on a dime, actually, uh I was supposed to be back at school in a few days from my senior year, yeah, start senior year, and and then and I and I didn't go and uh, you know, I had to change everything, and then I just stayed out and nothing happened for well, I got another part, I did get another part, and then nothing happened for several months, and I was thinking, uh-oh, I made a mistake.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Um, and then that's when the audition for Happy Days came up, and then I was also up for a TV movie at the same exact time that producers and directors really uh liked me a lot, and my agents said I had a great chance of getting it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then after I did um a screen test for Happy Days, and then they made an offer for me, and we actually turned it down.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was a Friday night.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Turned it down because I was at the time more interested in the TV movie than doing than doing uh a sitcom, you know, television show.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And the movie was the TV movie was being uh directed by a guy who was a big director at the time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He had directed the original Brian song, which was huge, and he was going to be directing this.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And there was a writer who the guy who had written this this uh project uh had written a movie called The Summer of 42, which was a film I loved back then.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And so I was more interested in that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So my agent and I talked and we decided to pass on Happy Days on that Friday night.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Some of my actor friends were saying, What are you crazy?

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<v SPEAKER_00>You know, why'd you turn it down?

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then and all this.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And as luck would have it, my agent played basketball every every Saturday at Gary Marshall's house.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So the guy who created Happy Days and went on to direct a lot of big movies after.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They played basketball that day.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And well, he told my agent that the show he thought had a really good chance of getting on the air because it was just to do a pilot.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The offer was to do a pilot, and then they had to sell it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And they they probably, you know, there were probably 50 to 75 pilots or more made every season, and maybe, you know, a handful would get on the air.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So you don't know.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But he told my agent it had a really good chance.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He said, we'll give them a better, uh, better deal.

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<v SPEAKER_00>They helped the the money, and my agent called me on Monday and said, I think we should reconsider.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And by then I was more open to going along with that.

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<v SPEAKER_01>If I'm correct, this is the 50th anniversary of the debut of Happy Days.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, this is the year this year we're sort of celebrating the 50th anniversary for when Happy Days came on the air.

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<v SPEAKER_00>74.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Can you imagine that?

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<v SPEAKER_01>That it's been 50 years ago.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I know.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I I can't.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I can't.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It doesn't seem possible.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's 50 years.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I mean Yeah, I know.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You know, it's so it's it's so surreal sometimes.

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<v SPEAKER_01>When the show first started, your name was at the end of the show, and then after a while, it transitioned to the beginning because you became more of a regular, I think.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Is that correct?

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<v SPEAKER_00>My deal was that in the first season I was guaranteed 10 out of 13 episodes because they um it was like a mid-season replacement.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So, but then, yeah, I mean I was more of a peripheral character in the very same way that that LaFonzi character played by Henry Winkler was a peripheral character.

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<v SPEAKER_00>As a matter of fact, in the first season, both of our credits were came at the end of the show, where the stars were all at the beginning.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But then our show's was doing very well right off the bat, and they they renewed us for you know another like um 10, 12 episodes to fill out the first season.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then my part started, you know, they were the producers and directors were liking what I was doing with the character, and they started writing more and more for me, and the same thing with with Fonzi, with Henry, and it did grow.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So then we were still in most of the episodes at the first season, but we were more really co-starring kind of characters, and then it and by the second season they moved us up.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We were in the front credits and you know, bigger had bigger spotlight on us.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, that's so good that it happened that way.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So, with all the shows that you did, what stands out as one of the top few that you'll always remember when you think about the show?

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's a tough one because there were so many uh episodes that that really uh felt great.

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<v SPEAKER_00>One that it was the first episode where my character was the integral part of the story.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This took place in the third season, about the first or second episode.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And it was the one where uh somebody had absolutely destroyed Fonzie's motorcycle.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He was out to get the guy who had done it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And it turned out that it was me that I accidentally backed into it, and then I panicked, and and I didn't know it had gotten caught in my fender or something, and I went forward and back and forth, and you know, it just got worse and worse.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We never really saw that, but we found out.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was a really well-written script.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It was very funny, and and it was, you know, one that highlighted my character.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That one always had a has a strong impact for me and and in my memory.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But there were a bunch of other episodes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So the thing that really uh stands out for me is the relationships that we had.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You know, we really became tight, all of us, and were family, and it was the collaborative effort and all of the discussions that we would have sometimes in between filming.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And those are the things that really stand out for me.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So you had so many special guests on the show during your time.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yes.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_01>I know you've mentioned John Lennon was on.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Who else comes to mind when you think about your special guests on the show?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, yeah, John Lennon wasn't a uh co a guest star.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He came and just totally unannounced, came onto the set with a sudden Julian, who was like nine at the time, just wanted to visit me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>I guess they were watching the show and he wanted Julian to maybe uh get a chance to see us and meet us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So that was pretty wild.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Um, but but in terms of guest stars, you know, there were we had some really interesting guest stars, but of course, the one that stands out um is Robin Williams, who launched on our show.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, I remember those shows with him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And then became, you know, had his own show, Morton Mindy, that spun off from that episode.

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<v SPEAKER_00>All of us remember that so vividly because when he came onto the set, it was like, whoa, where did this guy come from?

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<v SPEAKER_00>You know, it was like he like he was from another planet, you know, because nobody had ever seen the kind of quick, spontaneous things he was coming up with and in terms of uh lines and his the body language and sounds and everything he was doing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And and we felt, all of us felt that it was maybe one of the weakest scripts that had come across our you know, our table.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We thought, God, this is this script, this is this isn't work, it isn't gonna work, you know.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But then with Robin in it, it it totally got transformed and where the network kept there was such buzz going on about and that all a lot of the network people came to the show the Friday night with where we shot in front of an audience.

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<v SPEAKER_00>After the weekend, we come in on Monday or Tuesday and we find out, oh, Rob's got his own show now.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You know, I mean it was that quick.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, it was like he's got his own show.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What?

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<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, that was really amazing.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So you stayed with the show, what, six or was it seven years?

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<v SPEAKER_01>It was seven seasons.

00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:31.519
<v SPEAKER_00>Oh, okay, seven.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Seven seasons, but it was like six years because we did uh we did that midseason and the first full season kind of in one year.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But yeah, it was seven seasons.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The show ran eleven.

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<v SPEAKER_01>Everyone always said that hindsight is 2020.

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<v SPEAKER_01>So looking back, do you have any regrets on leaving the show early?

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<v SPEAKER_01>Or do you believe that that was definitely the right move for you to make at that time?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Oh, that's a that's a tough one, tough one, because at the time I felt there were a lot of reasons, combination of reasons.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Uh, first, I knew I was gonna you know already facing getting type being typecast because that was very much more prevalent than when there were only like three networks on and there was no cable, there was no inner no internet streaming or anything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>So, you know, we had 50, 60 million people watching us on a Tuesday night when we were number one.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>You know, you'd get more associated with a role than people would today when there's so much to you know, so many options to look at.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Sure.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But so I knew that that was I was facing that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I also um felt that the the the scripts, the quality of I where this where it was going.

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<v SPEAKER_00>After, you know, six, seven seasons, uh so it was this I did seven.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It's hard to keep a show, you know, growing and getting better and fresh.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And I felt it was kind of going downhill in direction that didn't feel right.

00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:06.399
<v SPEAKER_00>So a combination of that and like I said, wanting, and I wasn't very much like the character I played.

00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:06.879
<v SPEAKER_01>Right.

00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:14.720
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, I was just playing a role and and here, you know, I didn't want to be so locked down into only playing that kind of character.

00:16:14.799 --> 00:16:20.639
<v SPEAKER_00>And I it was very strong feelings that I had about wanting to do all all different kinds of roles.

00:16:20.720 --> 00:16:25.919
<v SPEAKER_00>And so that so at the time I I felt it was the right move.

00:16:26.159 --> 00:16:28.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, in retrospect, um, I don't know.

00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:33.440
<v SPEAKER_00>I I still think it was, but there were some tough times after that trying to break away.

00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:34.639
<v SPEAKER_00>It was difficult.

00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:39.039
<v SPEAKER_00>And uh I knew it'd be hard, but I don't know if I knew it would be quite as hard as it was.

00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:46.799
<v SPEAKER_00>But I kept plugging away and chipping away at it, and gradually I got a role that was different, and then it was like people saw me a little bit.

00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:51.759
<v SPEAKER_00>Oh wow, you I played like a you know, a psychiatrist on some show.

00:16:52.159 --> 00:17:00.399
<v SPEAKER_00>And then I played this almost like a kiss kind of character, you know, a metal racker kind of guy in a different episode.

00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:19.759
<v SPEAKER_00>And and we started just playing um, and I played an uh attorney, and and then um, you know, so slowly it started to open up, and then I got some in independent films, um, and then a studio film, and and then I was doing theater a lot in between to play all different kinds of roles.

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:22.319
<v SPEAKER_00>So it would get better, then it would kind of even on.

00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:34.079
<v SPEAKER_00>But now in the last four or five years, it's probably been the best period for me in terms of getting different kinds of films with really interesting roles that are all very different.

00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:48.559
<v SPEAKER_00>I think, you know, I attribute that to getting older and you know, being further and further distanced, obviously, from what I was back in that day, in terms of age and the way you look and all of that, and the time that has passed.

00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:53.039
<v SPEAKER_00>And and and the fact that I think that I've done some different kinds of things.

00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:54.240
<v SPEAKER_00>So people have seen it.

00:17:54.319 --> 00:18:04.720
<v SPEAKER_00>And now, now, you know, I I was I I've gotten roles in the last five years that went from playing uh a small town pastor to a polygamist.

00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:22.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Literally went from play a pastor to a polygamist, and then and then everything in between, uh uh defend an attorney defending a wounded vet, and then uh a career criminal, and then a guy who owned owner of a minor league hockey team.

00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:31.440
<v SPEAKER_00>And then uh in a West, I did a Western, and um, and then I did a film where I played a king in like a you know medieval times.

00:18:31.599 --> 00:18:42.400
<v SPEAKER_00>And now just recently I did a film that's coming out in November called Harson's Island Revenge, where it's a true story during the Prohibition with all the bootlegging going on.

00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:52.319
<v SPEAKER_00>This was a it's in Michigan, and they were getting the liquor from Canada, and all these there were different mobs that were competing for control.

00:18:52.799 --> 00:19:00.000
<v SPEAKER_00>And there was a gang called the Purple Gang, and I was a Jewish mob, and I play the head of the Jewish mob.

00:19:00.160 --> 00:19:02.640
<v SPEAKER_00>So it's it was a pretty intense role.

00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:05.200
<v SPEAKER_00>So I'm really looking forward to having that come out.

00:19:05.279 --> 00:19:09.200
<v SPEAKER_00>I haven't gotten to see it yet, and I'm hearing really good things about it.

00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:11.279
<v SPEAKER_00>So this is what I had in mind.

00:19:11.359 --> 00:19:17.279
<v SPEAKER_00>It's taken a little longer than I hoped to get into a better stride, but um better late than never.

00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:22.480
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, and I think there's one person in Happy Days that you'll probably remember forever.

00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:25.599
<v SPEAKER_01>I think, to my knowledge, she's kind of stuck with you for a long time.

00:19:25.920 --> 00:19:27.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, yes, indeed.

00:19:27.599 --> 00:19:31.039
<v SPEAKER_00>I'm glad that she showed up on that seventh season before I left.

00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:32.079
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, absolutely.

00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:34.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, I met my wife on the show.

00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:35.920
<v SPEAKER_00>It was the seventh season.

00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:37.200
<v SPEAKER_00>It was an episode.

00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:42.640
<v SPEAKER_00>She had a small guest role where she played a model at a photographer studio.

00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:45.119
<v SPEAKER_00>So we met, you know, during the rehearsal.

00:19:45.279 --> 00:20:07.119
<v SPEAKER_00>The day she showed up on probably Wednesday, and um, and we started get, you know, talking a little bit, and then Thursday more so, and then by Friday, when we were shooting the show, I asked her out before shooting the show to go to dinner, and we did, and then started dating and two years later got married, and and here it is 42 years later.

00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:08.640
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, that's awesome.

00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:12.319
<v SPEAKER_00>So, yeah, that have that to thank Happy Days for big time as well.

00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:13.599
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, absolutely.

00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:19.680
<v SPEAKER_01>And after you left Happy Days, you went from being in front of the camera to doing work behind the camera.

00:20:20.079 --> 00:20:23.200
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, um, I knew I w would want to direct at some point.

00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:27.119
<v SPEAKER_00>And this was probably um in the early 90s.

00:20:27.440 --> 00:20:39.359
<v SPEAKER_00>I I said, you know what, I I think what I should do is uh start out directing some theater and then see how that goes, see how I like it, and then maybe transition into film.

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:45.200
<v SPEAKER_00>Because I had an opportunity at a one of the small theaters in LA uh to direct a play.

00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.160
<v SPEAKER_00>So um I did, and and it went really well.

00:20:48.319 --> 00:21:01.359
<v SPEAKER_00>We got really good reviews, and then I did several more, and then I started looking for some material, film scripts that you know I could maybe find or see if I can get them somehow off the ground, you know.

00:21:01.599 --> 00:21:06.400
<v SPEAKER_00>And and um I met a writer on a film that I acted in.

00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:22.079
<v SPEAKER_00>We got along, we were talking, and then she she said, Let me send you a few of my scripts, because they're made to be, you know, sort of on the low budget independent scale, but they're really, you know, strong character pieces and really could make for a nice film.

00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:25.359
<v SPEAKER_00>So I read two of her scripts and loved them.

00:21:25.599 --> 00:21:36.799
<v SPEAKER_00>One of them would have been three to five million to make, and I was looking for the first time out to do something, you know, under a million and it'd be easier to get financing, that sort of thing.

00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:40.319
<v SPEAKER_00>I decided to try to and start pushing that script.

00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:49.519
<v SPEAKER_00>And and then I met a producer, Michael Murphy, who had produced the original Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and several others.

00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:53.039
<v SPEAKER_00>So, and we got along real well, and he loved the script.

00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:59.759
<v SPEAKER_00>And so we, and then talking to friends and different people, and we wound up raising enough money.

00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.200
<v SPEAKER_00>To make that first film that I directed.

00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:05.039
<v SPEAKER_00>It was called The Last Best Sunday.

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Really proud of the film.

00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.400
<v SPEAKER_00>It came came out really well.

00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:12.079
<v SPEAKER_00>It got some awards at some festivals.

00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.279
<v SPEAKER_00>And then it even got picked up for some distribution.

00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:21.440
<v SPEAKER_00>And the two lead actors were great, Douglas Spain and Angela Bettis.

00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:25.359
<v SPEAKER_00>And we got a great, great review and the variety.

00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:28.960
<v SPEAKER_00>And and um, you know, so it was a great experience.

00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:34.640
<v SPEAKER_00>And that led to several years later me doing a my second film, a film called Noula.

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.160
<v SPEAKER_00>We had a great cast.

00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:39.599
<v SPEAKER_00>A young Chaylan Woodley was was 13 at the time.

00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:43.279
<v SPEAKER_00>Chaylene has gone on and become pretty big.

00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:53.440
<v SPEAKER_00>We also had Treat Williams in the film and uh William Maypother was in it, Jalen, Curtis Armstrong, um leaving out a few other people, but great cast.

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:56.559
<v SPEAKER_00>And it premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival.

00:22:56.720 --> 00:23:00.880
<v SPEAKER_00>I got a blog for directing in that, and which is great.

00:23:01.039 --> 00:23:03.440
<v SPEAKER_00>And then we also got some distribution.

00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:05.599
<v SPEAKER_00>People can still see these films.

00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:10.720
<v SPEAKER_00>They're on I think they're on Amazon, Tubi, and a bunch of other streamers.

00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:17.839
<v SPEAKER_00>And then I have a bunch of other projects that uh I've been trying to get off the ground there, you know, in development, so to speak.

00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:21.920
<v SPEAKER_00>And hopefully I'll get some more going because I enjoyed that very much as well.

00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:23.200
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, that's really good.

00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:26.400
<v SPEAKER_01>So now I think I can say that it's gone full circle.

00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:30.079
<v SPEAKER_01>You've gone from music to acting back to music again.

00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:31.119
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah.

00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:33.519
<v SPEAKER_00>About it was about 10 years ago.

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:39.680
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, I I I done some I didn't completely burn my bridges on the singing back then.

00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:42.480
<v SPEAKER_00>There, you know, there were times when I would do it here.

00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:45.039
<v SPEAKER_00>I did some musicals, you know, musical theater.

00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:50.160
<v SPEAKER_00>And then there were a couple of times where I would do, I I did some club in LA.

00:23:50.400 --> 00:24:02.240
<v SPEAKER_00>I tried it out, but it was back in the late 70s, early 80s, and that music had wasn't really in favor, you know, the the the jazz standards and American songbook.

00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:22.160
<v SPEAKER_00>It was kind of looked like passe or something, but you know, it had a big comeback when um when people like, you know, um Natalie Cole did that album dedicated to her dad Nat and Diana Kroll started doing all these great um albums with bringing that jazz, the jazz standards.

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.839
<v SPEAKER_00>And then of course Harry Conney.

00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:24.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Oh, yeah.

00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:28.000
<v SPEAKER_00>When he did Harry Met Sally and that the song that had to be you.

00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:31.359
<v SPEAKER_00>And and then people like Rod Stewart started doing standards.

00:24:31.599 --> 00:24:43.519
<v SPEAKER_00>So I'm I said about 10 years ago, I said, if I'm ever gonna do the music, which I've always loved, that's that style, that kind of music, I better do it because you know I'm not getting younger.

00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:49.200
<v SPEAKER_00>And and so I I I was able to mount, put together a show.

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:55.200
<v SPEAKER_00>I found a musical director, and he found us, you know, secret musicians in LA.

00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:02.559
<v SPEAKER_00>And I was able to do um a jazz club called The Tellos out there, and it went over great.

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:12.799
<v SPEAKER_00>So it led to me doing some war clubs in LA and then clubs in New York at 54 below in New York and and uh the Iridium Jazz Club and the Cutting Ring.

00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:18.079
<v SPEAKER_00>And then I started getting some shows booked in some theaters around the country.

00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:34.799
<v SPEAKER_00>And so, and then it led to me doing my first CD, which was called D Most Mostly Swinging, and that was with the musical director I knew out in LA, who's a trumpet player, arranger, great, great arranger of that style of music, just phenomenal.

00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:35.440
<v SPEAKER_00>We did that.

00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:42.799
<v SPEAKER_00>It's called Mostly Swinging, and it turned out really well, and it introduced more people to what I'm doing, which was great.

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:48.400
<v SPEAKER_00>And then, you know, and then it led to um a few years later, I guess that's when you and I met.

00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:49.680
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, I think you're right.

00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:54.319
<v SPEAKER_00>It was some uh a mute a mutual friend of ours online introduced us.

00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.039
<v SPEAKER_00>Yes.

00:25:55.200 --> 00:26:03.519
<v SPEAKER_00>And then um you were coming out to LA because uh Bobby Wilson, I think, because his dad, I guess, was getting a star on the Walk of Fame there.

00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:09.039
<v SPEAKER_01>Yes, I produced and managed Bobby at that time, and Jackie Wilson was getting his star on the Walk of Fame.

00:26:09.279 --> 00:26:14.240
<v SPEAKER_00>So you and I talked and we got together for lunch at uh oh, it was that famous restaurant.

00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:17.759
<v SPEAKER_00>I forget the name right now, but um, I'll think of it later.

00:26:17.920 --> 00:26:20.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Uh but we we had a really good conversation about music.

00:26:21.279 --> 00:26:22.880
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, it seems like yesterday.

00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:36.079
<v SPEAKER_00>And we're gonna be saying, uh you you thought that if we did another C if I did another C D, that you you'll you know, yes, we could still do jazz standards and all that, but but not in the big band style.

00:26:36.160 --> 00:26:40.720
<v SPEAKER_00>Why not this time try a more contemporary jazz um approach?

00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:45.200
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, the way a Diana Kral or or you know, I guess a Harry Connick would do.

00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:49.359
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, I loved your style and your voice, and I thought that it could do really well that way.

00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:51.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, I I think that that's a great idea.

00:26:52.079 --> 00:26:53.759
<v SPEAKER_00>That makes sense for the next one.

00:26:53.920 --> 00:27:13.119
<v SPEAKER_00>And um, and then that led to me coming out to Nashville and recording with you and had such a great experience working with you and and recording the the CD, which is called uh New York High, uh, which is uh one of the singles and original, the only original, all the others were you know mainly J.S.

00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:21.839
<v SPEAKER_00>Standards, or though a couple of couple of 60s, 70s songs sprinkled in that we sort of um had a new take on, which was fun.

00:27:22.079 --> 00:27:26.319
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, I've been getting great feedback to that CD, New York High, for sure.

00:27:26.640 --> 00:27:29.680
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, I really enjoyed doing it, and plus it did well in the UK.

00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:32.880
<v SPEAKER_00>Yeah, very well there on the heritage chart.

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:37.440
<v SPEAKER_00>It got up to number 10, and it was on in the in their top 40 for a long time.

00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:40.880
<v SPEAKER_01>So Yeah, it did well there, and I think it did much better than 10.

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.400
<v SPEAKER_01>I think it hit five or six.

00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:43.359
<v SPEAKER_00>I don't know.

00:27:43.440 --> 00:27:45.920
<v SPEAKER_00>Uh no, I think it I think it peaked at ten.

00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:47.279
<v SPEAKER_00>Um, I think so.

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:49.119
<v SPEAKER_00>But yeah, I could be wrong.

00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:51.039
<v SPEAKER_00>But but it but it did well.

00:27:51.200 --> 00:27:58.559
<v SPEAKER_00>So I'm looking forward forward to um you know introducing it to more and more people and getting it out there in a in a bigger way.

00:27:58.880 --> 00:27:59.680
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, me too.

00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:01.759
<v SPEAKER_01>So what's on the horizon now?

00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:03.759
<v SPEAKER_01>Anything that you can tell us about?

00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:10.480
<v SPEAKER_00>Um nothing that I'm working on right now, but I do have one I mentioned coming out in November, Harson's Island Revenge.

00:28:10.640 --> 00:28:17.440
<v SPEAKER_00>A few others I would mention that came out, you know, in the last couple of years that people could see that are streaming.

00:28:17.599 --> 00:28:20.240
<v SPEAKER_00>One is called County Line, No Fear.

00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:24.559
<v SPEAKER_00>I did that with Tom Wolpat, and uh it's a really fun role that I play in that.

00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:25.119
<v SPEAKER_00>Nice.

00:28:25.279 --> 00:28:37.519
<v SPEAKER_00>And Far Haven, a Western that I did, and that was some really great cast, and uh a film called Lost Heart, uh, which um the one I played that local pastor, but it's very different.

00:28:37.759 --> 00:28:47.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Very very different, uh, not your normal uh local pastor, and and it's a really fun movie that has a lot of heart.

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:54.240
<v SPEAKER_00>There's some projects I'm talking to some people now about for the future, but they're not definite goes yet.

00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:59.599
<v SPEAKER_00>You know, I read the scripts and I really liked them and said, yeah, I'd be very interested in playing these roles.

00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:06.240
<v SPEAKER_00>So I'm just now waiting for them to to get it lined up in a you know, where it's green lit and ready to go.

00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:07.599
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, that's good.

00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:08.559
<v SPEAKER_00>So we'll see.

00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.119
<v SPEAKER_00>We'll see.

00:29:09.279 --> 00:29:10.559
<v SPEAKER_00>Hopefully, so hopefully soon.

00:29:10.880 --> 00:29:11.920
<v SPEAKER_01>Yes, definitely.

00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:15.200
<v SPEAKER_01>So I understand you're coming to Nashville of a Comic-Con.

00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:16.079
<v SPEAKER_00>Oh, yes.

00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:18.720
<v SPEAKER_00>Gallatin Comic-Con.

00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:21.920
<v SPEAKER_00>October, I think, is 26th and 27th.

00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:32.480
<v SPEAKER_00>So that that'll be that'll be a lot of fun because um it'll be a little reunion of sorts because uh Henry Henry Winkler and Anthony Williams are gonna be there with me.

00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:37.920
<v SPEAKER_00>We got together for one of these about a month ago in Wisconsin, and it was a blast.

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:44.319
<v SPEAKER_00>It was so great getting together with them again and and hanging out and meeting everybody.

00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:49.200
<v SPEAKER_00>So we'll do that again in um at the Gallanton Comic Con in October.

00:29:49.519 --> 00:29:51.359
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, I definitely have it on my calendar.

00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.240
<v SPEAKER_01>Oh, great.

00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:53.359
<v SPEAKER_01>How far away is that?

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:55.200
<v SPEAKER_01>It's about 25 minutes for me.

00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:56.319
<v SPEAKER_00>Oh, good, good.

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:58.559
<v SPEAKER_00>That's oh that's a lot closer than I knew.

00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:00.000
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, it's not far at all.

00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:00.480
<v SPEAKER_00>All right.

00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:01.680
<v SPEAKER_00>Well, um, it'll be great.

00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:02.640
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, it will.

00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:04.160
<v SPEAKER_01>I'm looking forward to it.

00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:06.640
<v SPEAKER_01>This has been a great conversation.

00:30:06.799 --> 00:30:08.640
<v SPEAKER_01>I really appreciate you coming on.

00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:09.440
<v SPEAKER_00>Oh, yeah.

00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:10.960
<v SPEAKER_00>Thank you, Tony, for having me.

00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:14.400
<v SPEAKER_00>Great to talk to you again and and look forward to seeing you in October.

00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.599
<v SPEAKER_01>Yeah, absolutely.

00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:16.720
<v SPEAKER_01>See you then.

00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:28.240
<v SPEAKER_01>Thanks for joining us today.

00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:30.559
<v SPEAKER_01>We hope you enjoyed the show.

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:34.480
<v SPEAKER_01>This has been a Tony Mantor Production.

00:30:34.640 --> 00:30:39.279
<v SPEAKER_01>For more information, contact media at plateau music.com.